Just a notice for everyone - Sound Transit's Central Link will start regularly scheduled testing tomorrow (Thursday, January 9th, 2008) starting around 6:30am and will last for about 16 hours.

Starting in June or July, 2008, the Overhead Contact System will be completed from Beacon Hill Tunnel/Mt. Baker Station to South 154th Street/Tukwila International Blvd Station. Dead wire testing will start in June with a LRV being pushed through the Beacon Hill Tunnel to South 154th. Once these tests are completed, along with the testing of crossovers and signal systems, live wire testing will begin along the entire initial segment.

The first vehicle, ST 101 needs 2500 miles for it's "burn-in", ST 102 needs 1500 miles and the rest of the fleet will need 750 miles before they can be used in revenue service.

Here are the speed limits for the curious.

Pine Street Tunnel - 20mph
Pine Street to Westlake - 30mph
Westlake - University Street - 35mph
University Street - Pioneer Square - 30mph
Pioneer Square - International District 15mph
International District to Stadium Station - 30mph
Stadium to Lander Street - 45mph
Lander Street to Beacon Hill Tunnel East Portal - 40mph
Beacon Hill Tunnel - 55mph
Beacon Hill Tunnel West Portal - Martin Luther King Jr Way/Henderson Street - 35 or 40mph. TBD by City of Seattle once construction is fully finished
Henderson Street Station past middle siding - 40mph
Middle Siding to Boeing Access Road - 45mph
Boeing Access Road to I-5 - SR-518 Interchange - 55mph
Curve from I-5 to SR-518 - 45mph
SR-518 to Tukwila Station - 55mph
Tukwila Station - Sea-Tac Airport - 55mph

Total Estimated trip time, 35 minutes from Westlake to Sea-Tac Airport with latest speed limits.

I'll be out tomorrow getting photos of Link :banana:

Just a clarification:

What is the progress on the Beacon Hill tunnels? How will they test trains from the Operations and Maintainence base to Rainier Valley, or will they wait until June/July for that?

Be sure to take lots and lots of photos! :) :) :) :banana: :banana:

Nice! What are the current speeds of the buses in the tunnel?

I guess they're going to test the trains while the buses use the tunnel too???!

And those are pretty fast speeds in the tunnel...although that's the speed limit the city has placed, is there a possibility ST will use lower speeds, especially since it'll be mixed tunnel traffic? I thought averages would range in the 15-25mph.

Just a clarification:

What is the progress on the Beacon Hill tunnels? How will they test trains from the Operations and Maintainence base to Rainier Valley, or will they wait until June/July for that?

Be sure to take lots and lots of photos! :) :) :) :banana: :banana:

The first tunnel is done, the second is breaking through any day now.

Nice! What are the current speeds of the buses in the tunnel?

I guess they're going to test the trains while the buses use the tunnel too???!

And those are pretty fast speeds in the tunnel...although that's the speed limit the city has placed, is there a possibility ST will use lower speeds, especially since it'll be mixed tunnel traffic? I thought averages would range in the 15-25mph.

Averages include station stops. ;)
ST won't use lower speeds - buses and trains will be kept separate through signaling.

I wish the city would allow for high-rise development around all of the stations of this line. :(

Just a clarification:

What is the progress on the Beacon Hill tunnels? How will they test trains from the Operations and Maintainence base to Rainier Valley, or will they wait until June/July for that?

Be sure to take lots and lots of photos! :) :) :) :banana: :banana:

A friend of mine that is a operations supervisor for Link said they were installing a new conveyor belt and about 4-6 weeks from completion. There isn't much left for the concrete liners at the site and only 4-6 panels of track for the tunnel boring machine left.

When it comes to testing between the O&M and Mt. Baker Station, they will use the Southbound Tunnel. They will tow the trainset with the Brandt Rail unit at low speed to test the Overhead Wire. Live testing will start after adjustments are made to the wire (tensioning) along with platform clearances.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/109/380944342_974c0bb20f_o.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/162/380945728_e0b78a342e_o.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/223/492233989_099b0ddb11_o.jpg

Testing will be done similar to the above photos, taken a few weeks apart.

Nice!!! It is good to see trains roling in Seattle!!! BTW, when did the first trains begin testing?

Nice!!! It is good to see trains roling in Seattle!!! BTW, when did the first trains begin testing?

Six months ago?

About 7 months including dead wire testing.

To bus from Westlake to Seatac: 31 Mins for $1.25.

Maybe during rush hour it may be worth it to train...

While that is true and assuming you are talking about the Metro Route #194 that is also an express bus that doesn't stop along Martin Luther King Jr with 3 stops.

Here is ST 102 between Royal Brougham/Stadium Station and the Operations and Maintenance Facility on a new bicycle trail that runs along the length of E-3 Busway. Today is the start of 16 hour testing starting around 6:30am-7:00am

Approaching Northbound at Lander Street from the Operations and Maintenance area
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2169/2184104684_1f0bc11577_o.jpg

Stopping at Lander Station Northbound
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2238/2184104632_c045bb1b93_o.jpg

Between Royal Brougham and Holgate Street
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2314/2184104562_8339d8622e_o.jpg

I wish the city would allow for high-rise development around all of the stations of this line. :(

They will. The pressure of land value increases around the stations will force the change later.

To bus from Westlake to Seatac: 31 Mins for $1.25.

Maybe during rush hour it may be worth it to train...

The potential for bad traffic versus a guaranteed time? Train wins.
Smooth ride? Train wins.
Level boarding? Train wins.
Luggage space? Train wins.
All the stops in between that the 194 doesn't serve? Train wins.

Yeah, luggage is going to be the huge thing. I watched a bunch of people get on the 194 that was running 13 minutes late struggle with luggage and people trying to find a spot to sit down. Most were going from Sea-Tac to Downtown for Amtrak or Greyhound.

They will. The pressure of land value increases around the stations will force the change later.

I wish I shared your optimism. I just hope the stations aren't surrounded by 4 story apartment buildings before it's too late.

Very nice! Thanks for the updates!


I wish the city would allow for high-rise development around all of the stations of this line. :(

Here are a couple of links that deal with this issue from the city of Seattle. From the looks of it, they are planning major changes in anticipation for light rail, but this site is a couple of years old. I don't know if the city still has the same plans or have revised them:

Seattle DOT Station Area Planning (http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/ppmp_sap_home.htm)

Other links:
- Henderson/Rainier Valley Station plans (http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/ppmp_sap_neigh.htm#henderson)
- Othello Station plans (http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/ppmp_sap_neigh.htm#othello)
- Edmunds/Columbia City Station plans (http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/ppmp_sap_neigh.htm#edmunds)
- McClellan/Mount Baker Station plans (http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/ppmp_sap_neigh.htm#mccellan)
- Beacon Hill Station plans (http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/ppmp_sap_neigh.htm#beacon)
- International District Station plans (http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/ppmp_sap_neigh.htm#international)
- Pioneer Square Station plans (http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/ppmp_sap_neigh.htm#pioneer)
- Westlake Station plans (http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/ppmp_sap_neigh.htm#westlake)
- First Hill Station plans (http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/ppmp_sap_neigh.htm#first) (doesn't include replacement of station with streetcar)
- Capitol Hill Station plans (http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/ppmp_sap_neigh.htm#capitol)
- University District/NE 45th/Brooklyn Station plans (http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/ppmp_sap_neigh.htm#university)
- Roosevelt Station plans (http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/ppmp_sap_neigh.htm#roosevelt)
- Northgate Station plans (http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/ppmp_sap_neigh.htm#northgate)

Thanks for the links. Looks like most of the stations are fairly low density (the downtown area stations appear to have higher densities planned, but that was to be expected). :(

I wish I shared your optimism. I just hope the stations aren't surrounded by 4 story apartment buildings before it's too late.

And what if they are? 4 story apartment buildings actually aren't bad, as far as density goes. Remember that if you put a 4 story apartment building next to a McDonald's with a parking lot and a drive-through, you average two stories...

And what if they are? 4 story apartment buildings actually aren't bad, as far as density goes. Remember that if you put a 4 story apartment building next to a McDonald's with a parking lot and a drive-through, you average two stories...

I just think we should make the most out of these transit oriented developments--and in my opinion that means encouraging the development of 20+ story buildings around the stations along the entire line. I know I'm just dreaming, but...

I just think we should make the most out of these transit oriented developments--and in my opinion that means encouraging the development of 20+ story buildings around the stations along the entire line. I know I'm just dreaming, but...

In other words, "Vancouverize" the areas surrounding the light rail route.

In other words, "Vancouverize" the areas surrounding the light rail route.
I like that idea!

Same! It works very very well in Vancouver too.

Same! It works very very well in Vancouver too.

There are downsides - fast, sudden high density ends up not being particularly pedestrian-oriented. Have you been out to the new development along the Millennium line? It's like a wasteland with towers in the middle, no retail, no commercial space, just very tall suburbs.

very tall suburb is what bellevue is to me

^^ I don't consider Bellevue as a suburb of Seattle. It's a growing up city like Seattle. It's got lots of retail and businesses to support itself.

Sorry for the off point, the light rail testing looks good in the pictures. I would love to see new videos of them whizzing by at 55 miles per hour in some sections.

There are downsides - fast, sudden high density ends up not being particularly pedestrian-oriented. Have you been out to the new development along the Millennium line? It's like a wasteland with towers in the middle, no retail, no commercial space, just very tall suburbs.

Although I haven't been to those places, who says we have to develop ours exactly the same?

Besides, there are some people who like quiet neighborhoods where there isn't much other than residential. I don't see any harm in having some "boring" quiet condos around a couple stations to cater to this crowd. High-density residential condo towers with some basic retail (particularly a grocery store, maybe some small cafes and restaurants) built around a light rail station would probably sound very nice to some people.

"There are downsides - fast, sudden high density ends up not being particularly pedestrian-oriented."

I would say only if the city let's it, that's what zoning and land regulations are for. The parts of Bellevue that have been developed in the last 15 years are 100 times better for peds then the older parts of town.

"There are downsides - fast, sudden high density ends up not being particularly pedestrian-oriented."

I would say only if the city lets it, that's what zoning and land regulations are for. The parts of Bellevue that have been developed in the last 15 years are 100 times better for peds then the older parts of town.

Sure, if the city lets it - but cities do. It's very hard to write good regs. Just look at the Seattle multifamily changes - how long did THAT take?

"There are downsides - fast, sudden high density ends up not being particularly pedestrian-oriented."

I would say only if the city let's it, that's what zoning and land regulations are for. The parts of Bellevue that have been developed in the last 15 years are 100 times better for peds then the older parts of town.

Sure, if the city lets it - but cities do. It's very hard to write good regs. Just look at the Seattle multifamily changes - how long did THAT take?

Well, I guess we could learn from the Vancouver suburb of Richmond. Since the Canada Line will be running along their main thoroughfare, they are planning a major redevelopment of the area with certain standards for the roadway cross-section and associated new developments, especially a new one at the future Captsan Way Station (for those who are familiar with Richmond).

Now, i'm not quite familiar with Seattle development guidelines/rules, but i'm sure Seattle could be like Richmond. Could public-private partnerships be possible?

Well, I guess we could learn from the Vancouver suburb of Richmond. Since the Canada Line will be running along their main thoroughfare, they are planning a major redevelopment of the area with certain standards for the roadway cross-section and associated new developments, especially a new one at the future Captsan Way Station (for those who are familiar with Richmond).

Now, i'm not quite familiar with Seattle development guidelines/rules, but i'm sure Seattle could be like Richmond. Could public-private partnerships be possible?

I think we could learn from Europe instead of looking at something that hasn't even happened yet!

Why do you need public-private partnerships? Just zone for short frontages and wide sidewalks with requirements for mixed use.

Here are some videos I took of Central Link during the initial testing.

First two videos are low speed tests 5-20mph while the grade crossings were not activated

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uc3P51tMbNw&NR=1

http://youtube.com/watch?v=64wRy1ZaTZM

Higher speed testing between 20-30mph.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Q2myRksMeNg&feature=related

I have another video of the 55 and 60mph (our cars can go 65mph max) speed and braking runs but need to find where they are at.

Here are some videos I took of Central Link during the initial testing.

First two videos are low speed tests 5-20mph while the grade crossings were not activated

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uc3P51tMbNw&NR=1

http://youtube.com/watch?v=64wRy1ZaTZM

Higher speed testing between 20-30mph.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Q2myRksMeNg&feature=related

I have another video of the 55 and 60mph (our cars can go 65mph max) speed and braking runs but need to find where they are at.

Please post the video of the train going 55 and 60 mph, hopefully you will find it as well. Thanks!

Speaking of "Vancouverizing" along the route, I just drove by the Mount Baker station for the first time today and DAMN there is some opportunity for some high-rise development if I have ever seen it. Mt. Baker is a beautiful, solid neighborhood. The area around the light rail station is the only underutilized part of it. Being high up in the air there would be amazing too- unique views of Seattle, Mt. Rainier, and Lake Washington. 14 minutes to Westlake by light rail. Practically surrounded by parks.

The area around that station could really be something special.

anyone have any more videos of the trains testing??

anyone have any more videos of the trains testing??

Hmmm, the guy said he has a video of it but hasn't posted since. Youtube don't have anymore videos of the testings, either. The last one was about 3 months ago.

I haven't turned up the videos. I'm assuming they were lost when my External HD crashed.

A friend of mine has video of Link but getting him to upload the videos is pretty difficult.

I just need to invest in a camera that can take video again.

Aww that sucks! It's all good. We can wait and we'll see more of light rail testing videos sometime. I could do some videos but I don't have the time.

How's the testing going? I just realized that light rail link will open within a year and half from now. Time is getting closer!

Sound Transit just posted a short video clip (26seconds) of the train being tested in the downtown tunnel. It says they just started testing them down there recently after-hours and on weekends....

I don't know why the tunnel didn't remain open later and on weekends if there's been no testing going on until now.

http://www.soundtransit.org/x5492.xml

I saw the train running yesterday right by the Beacon Hill Tunnel. Looks nice!!

kub it was like that before they even closed the tunnel it probably originally because they were afraid it would get dangerous down there at night. but we're a much busier city then we were back then. that's why i can't wait for lightrail to open the tunnel be open many more hours and there's a lot of people that think buses are for low class smelly people that will take the lightrail

That videos got me really excited to ride it when it open next year! :banana:

Keep an eye for a 3 or 4 car trainset running along the track in the next week =)

In other words, "Vancouverize" the areas surrounding the light rail route.

Even Vancouver doesn't have it right in that regard.

Burnaby has actually densified its Skytrain stations quite well, but the City of Vancouver has been quite unimpressive. Even after 20 years since the construction of the Expo Line, the area around Nanaimo and 29th Street Stations are still mostly single homes. Just now, they're beginning to plan highrises around Broadway/Commercial Drive Stations.

The last DPD bulletin had an application for a 6-story, 365-unit building at the Othello stop. It's not Vancouver-ization in the sense of towers, but it's remarkable how much density you can get with 6 stories (see, for example, Paris).

Even Vancouver doesn't have it right in that regard.

Burnaby has actually densified its Skytrain stations quite well, but the City of Vancouver has been quite unimpressive. Even after 20 years since the construction of the Expo Line, the area around Nanaimo and 29th Street Stations are still mostly single homes. Just now, they're beginning to plan highrises around Broadway/Commercial Drive Stations.

Yes, Burnaby has done much better, mainly around the Patterson, Metrotown and Edmunds stations, but the Joyce-Collingwood station in Vancouver (only one) is pretty nice. When I said "Vancouver", I meant the entire GVRD.

The last DPD bulletin had an application for a 6-story, 365-unit building at the Othello stop. It's not Vancouver-ization in the sense of towers, but it's remarkable how much density you can get with 6 stories (see, for example, Paris).

Indeed - don't forget that Paris doesn't have the shared-wall laws that we do, and they have much narrower streets, but you can get pretty dense.